The explosive power of a new affection

Preston Goff, Guest Writer
I recently heard a phrase that I couldn’t help but be intrigued by: “The explosive power of a new affection…” First coined by a man named Thomas Chalmers hundreds of years ago, it refers to a concept that has driven the very heartbeat of society more and more in our modern age.Read more

See, it refers to a phenomenon that is rooted in our very nature from an early age; a desire to continually desire the next person, item, event, etc. that demands our attention, by providing us with just enough of a mountaintop high. A new affection.

This explosive power has invaded our every aspect as a society. Just as an infection can come to control an entire body, we too are often steered by this power. We are driven in the pursuit of new affections, and we see this most prominently by the manner in which we spend our money, the goals that we endeavor to accomplish, the relationships that we foster, and even through the way that we perceive spirituality and faith. The very phrase “The American Dream”, which is still very much alive and well, refers to an achievable point that guarantees our reception of happiness and ultimate pleasure through the conquering of societies’ most valued accomplishments.

Teaser: No one ever really makes it to a point where they feel like they have accomplished this dream. But yet, this explosive power is always present to encourage those brave enough to join in the never-ending race to success.

Relationally this explosive power is very dangerous. As a society and truly as a world, we allow ourselves to be classified by the qualities and traits we possess, by the languages we speak, even by the flags that we fly. Through this, a complex is established that roots humans against humans. It continually creates an inferior and a superior, leaving the gap between the two severe. If we aren’t careful the pursuit of a new affection (of feeling exclusive or admirable in some way) will come at the expense of another.

Fortunately, just as it is with an infection, an early awareness of the issue can help to heal the problem. Proactively pushing ourselves to not be captivated by new affections, but rather dedicating ourselves to that which is truly important allows for our perspective on life to become uniquely attuned to the ways in which we can facilitate a positive impact. We are intentionally created in order to fulfill specific roles. Therefore, deny “the explosive power of a new affection,” and see where it takes you.